Rotary engine.



' Patented Sept. "9, 1902; m. m. LUCKERBY. i

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Apr. 28, 1902.)

(N0 Model.)

FIG. 1.

THE mums PETERS cow momumu, WASHINUTO' i, D c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OEETQE.

MITCHELL M. LOOKERBY, OF GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA.

ROTARY ENG l N E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 7 08,566, datedSeptember 9, 1902.

Application filed April 28, 1902. Serial No. 104,999. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MITCHELL M. LocK- ERBY,0f Grand Forks,county ofGrand Forks, and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in R- tary Engines; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and clear description thereof.

My invention relates to engines.

The improvements relates to an engine of the rotary type. The im pellingforce may be steam, air, gas, or water.

The invention consists in the following construction and combination ofparts, the details of which will first be fully described and thefeatures of novelty then pointed out and claimed.

Figure 1 represents a central vertical section of an engine to which Ihave applied my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectionthrough a portion of the casing, part of the construction being brokenaway. Fig. 3 represents a detail edge view of one of the pistons. Fig.4c is an outside elevation of a portion of the exterior casinghereinafter specifically referred to.

The outer casing 1 is mounted upon any suitable bed or frame 2. Thiscasing is of annular form and contains a rotary wheel 3, which carries aseries of hinged pistons 4E. The wheel 3 is preferably solid and hasbolted thereto side flanges 5, rigid therewith, which extend outwardlyinto the steam-space of the casing. The pistons 4 are pivoted at 6 tothe flange-plates in such a position that they may stand outapproximately radial to the driving-shaft 7. The circumference of thewheel 3 is recessed in order to permitthe piston to swing within thecircumference there of, the pivot-points (i being appropriately locatedfor that purpose. The heels 8 of the pistons are connected by springs 9,carried in recesses in the wheel 3, the tendency of the springs being toswing the segmental pistons 4 out into the steam-space 5 across the sameand radially of the driving-shaft. Suitable recesses in the wheel 3 areformed to accommodate the oscillating movement of the piston heels 8.Abutment-blocks 10 are secured to the inner side of the casing, theouter edge of which is curved to conform thereto. The inner surface 11is disposed ecceutrically to the circumference of the wheel 3., and itsapex 12 is tempered or steel-shod in order to neutralize the impact ofthe ends of the piston against the same in their rotation. The interiorof the abutment-blocks 10 are hollow, and the live-steam pipes 13communicate therewith respectively. The steam induction or intake ports14 are formed in the radial faces of the abutment-chambers and dischargesteam circumferentially of the casing. 15 is a valve provided with anoscillating cored part 16, having a series of channels therein.

17 is a live-steam pipe leading from the boiler, and 18 isapipe leadingfrom the valve and connecting with the steam-pipes 13.

Valve 16 has. a series of channels therein, which alternately registerwith the pipes 17 and 18 and are alternately cut off from the same.

19 is an eccentric-rod carried by an eccentric upon the driving-shaft 7and connected by an arm to the valve, whereby the valve is oscillated tocause it to admit and shut ofi steam at proper intervals in the rotationof the pistons.

20 is a bypass pipe provided with a valve 21, which is normally closed,whereby the engine may be started through the by-pass should the valvebe out of register with the live-steam channels at any time.

22 represents the exhaust pipes or passages.

23 is a packing-strip formed on the outer edge and the side edges of thepistons and disposed diagonally thereof.

24 represents packing-plates carried on the abutment-faces of thechambers 10 and carry steam-pipe packing in their edges.

25 represents packing-strips carried in slots 26 along that part of theouter casing not covered by the abutment-blocks, and 27 arefollower-plates for the purpose of holding the packing-strips 25 inplace. These packingstrips engage the outer peripheries of theflange-pieces 5, so as to provide a substantial steam tight connectionat that point, the flanges being preferably rabbeted to provide asuitable bearing, against which the packing-strips lie.

In operation steam is admitted into the abutment-blocks 10, passing outthrough the ports 14, the pistons which are in the steamspace havingbeen thrown outwardly by their springs. Steam entering the steam-spacebehind the pistons causes the wheel 3, attached to the pistons, to movein the direction of the arrow 28. In the rotation of the pistons whenthey reach the eccentric-faces 11 of the abutment-blocks they are causedto gradually fold into circumferential alinement with the wheel 3 by theimpact of the piston against the faces thereof. When the pistons passthe exhaust-ports 22, the steam in the rear of the same and in front ofthe next succeeding piston is exhausted. When the pistons pass theabutment-faces of the blocks 10, they are released from contact with theeccentric-faces and the springs force them outwardly into thesteam-space to receive the impelling force of the steam through theports 14. The channels in the valve 16 through the eccentric connectionwith the driving-shaft time the admission of the steam through the ports14, whereby the steam is intermittently admitted to the pistons and shutoff, permitting the steam to be used expansively in the steamspace ofthe engine.

While I have shown two abutment-blocks and four pistons, yet I Wish itto be understood that I may use any number of abutment-blocks or anynumber of pistons which I may find desirable for the purpose.

The disposition of the packing hereinbefore referred to renders theoperation of the movable parts of the engine steam-tight.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a rotary wheel, a casing, swinging pistons securedto the wheel, eccentric-blocks secured to the casing havingsteam-chambers formed therein, live-steam pipes entering theeccentric-blocks, steamports in the eccentric-blocks, an oscillatingvalve, eccentric-rod connections between the wheel and the Valve, andexhaust-ports in the casing, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a rotary wheel, a casing, swinging pistons securedto the Wheel, eccentric-blocks secured to the casing havingsteam-chambers formed therein, live-steam pipes entering theeccentric-blocks, steamports in the eccentric-blocks, an oscillatingvalve, eccentric-rod connections between the wheel and the valve,exhaust-ports in the casing, and packing for the eccentric blocks,pistons and easing, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

MITCHELL M. LOCKERBY.

Witnesses:

H. BENDEKE, B. H. PETERSON.

